Researchers addressed 2 common misconceptions about probiotics. The first misconception was “All probiotics are the same.” They noted that different strains of probiotics have different health effects. The benefits can vary by genus, species/sub-species, and strain. The researchers used clinical evidence to provide recommended strains of probiotic for various clinical conditions, summarized in the following table:

The second misconception they addressed was “More probiotic is better.” Currently, the researchers noted, there is no conclusive evidence to show that probiotics with higher concentrations of bacteria or more species/strains improve their efficacy and health benefits. Different types of bacteria are effective at different amounts, they said, and the recommended amount and number of strains should be based on clinical studies that demonstrate a health benefit.

“Making clinical recommendations for probiotics is complicated by growing numbers of products and a paucity of validated data,” said the researchers. “However, [NPs] who keep these common misconceptions in mind will be better able to evaluate and recommend specific probiotics to their patients.”

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